The short, simple answer is well - No.
Political setbacks will not destroy stem cell research efforts. How do I know that? Because there HAVE already been political setbacks - and whatever hiccups they might have caused - overall progress has not been greatly hindered.
It is all about funding, and if it is not to be found in the States, there are other nations and governments willing to fund this research.
My country is one such example. Research institutes, scientists and whatever other initiatives have moved overseas to carry on stem cell research, even if it is frowned upon in the US.
Does this mean though that these other countries or governments have fewer moral scruples? Frankly, no. Most forward-thinking people of today, including the commercial and business savvy, will have no problems with this line of research. The objections have largely been religiously motivated.
This is not a case of going up to an expectant mum saying, "Why don't you have an abortion? It's for a good cause - you might 'potentially' help save lives...."
It's not like that at all. It's more like a 'by-the-way' kind of thing, "I had no choice but to have an abortion. But here's my placenta, put it to good use if you can."
If we can. That's what stem cell research is about. There's a possibility it might help save lives, so why not explore a bit to find out what it can do - if we can?
To be fair, there's a good reason why other entities are jumping in even if the Americans are feeling a little squeamish. On the one hand, success can indeed save lives; on the other, it is also a potentially lucrative business; and on a final note, it apparently does require aborted fetuses.
In the world of stem cell research, the possibilities are too exciting to give up.
To give a recent example, several sports stars have been seeking treatment from a Serbian physiotherapist who uses placenta fluid to speed up recovery of sports injuries.
Where there is demand, there will always by supply. Regulation, rather than outright banning will be key to ensure things don't get out of hand.
But to put simply - no one's encouraging more abortions just to fuel stem cell research. And if you think politics is going to put a stop to this research, here's the answer, short and sweet - No.
